Why Insulation Makes a Difference In Your Attic

Why Insulation Makes a Difference In Your Attic

November 26, 2014

You’re enjoying your home but wondering if you have enough insulation in your attic. A common question we get is why insulation makes a difference in your attic.

Insulate Your Attic

According to the Department of Energy estimates a properly insulated attic can shave 10 to 50% off your heating bill! Of course, it works the other way as well and help with your energy bill in the summer.

Check out the Energy.gov website http://energy.gov/savings to see if you qualify for any energy rebates in your area.

Without insulation, the cold and heat coming into your attic is easily seeping into the rest of your home. Adding proper insulation will not only make your home feel more comfortable, but it will help your wallet.

Before insulating:

Fix any and all roofing leaks.

Add safety gaps. If you have any recessed or canned lights, having insulation touching them can be a fire hazard. A safety gap needs to be created around each of these lights unless you are using mineral-wool insulation. The last thing you want for your house to burn down!

Direct exhaust fans to the exterior. Even though it is a requirement for exhaust fans and vents to be directed to the exterior, many builders have not done this. You don’t want the humid exhaust air getting trapped in your insulation and ruining it.

Staple foam baffles near eaves. You don’t want the insulation touching your roofing or covering the soffit vents. The soffit vents allow airflow and prevents ice dams. Without adding plastic or foam baffles, you could have a big problem on your hands.

Add a proper vapor barrier.

It can be a lot of work, but well worth your investment. You can check out this table to find out your return on investment for various home improvement projects. http://www.greenandsave.com/master_roi_table.html

If you feel overwhelmed or underqualified to insulate your attic, contact your local roofing specialist such as Cornerstone Roofing for a free estimate.